The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-16
CHAPTER II.

SHIRLEY.
They were wholesome pretty children, the
five whom General Shirley marshaled for the
home camp at sunset. Tom was a sturdy,
broad shouldered lad-a frank, honest fellow.
They called him the governor.
Percy was a little blue eyed lad, who took
a childish interest in all living creatures. He
studied the ways of birds and butterflies He
prisoned shining winged beetles and watched
their efforts to escape He peered into snake
holes, and birds nests, and rabbit burrows.
His mother called HIM her little Paul Pry
Then came Brownie, a dancing sunbeam of
a creature, who seemed good for nothing but
getting into mischief. She was the most
thoughtless child of the six, and the most un-
lucky. y tangle of dark curls covered her
head, and ever and anon tumbled down over
her wide brown eyes She was continually in
trouble always drawing on the rest for help
and sympathy.
"Whatever will become of Brownie." said
their mother
whatever will become of the whole pack?'
said their father. "You can't teach them all
any longer. They ought to be in school this
day, every little pest of them. But where to
send them don't know. We can't let them
away from home, can we2"
Their mother shook her head. 1t would
have been like sending part of herself away.
"I know what to do with 'emn cried little
Percy. "Send 'em to the new school teacher.
He plays the Star Spangled Banner on the
violin, and has glass case full of butterflies
and humming birds"
"And the boys say he goes fishing with
them, and shows them how to bait a hook
better than old Pete himself can do it. He's
a good teacher" chined in Tom
"And he shows the girls how to make pict-
ures, and he picks the children up when they
get knocked over in the mud, " lisped Brownie.
''They say he was educated over the sea,
and that he knows Latin and Greek. Yes,
and he can write poetry, too They never
had teacher here before who could write
poetry"
1t was a softer voice that spoke this time
a voice that had sweet, thrilling ring. 1t
was Shirley who spoke.
Shirley was the flower and the star of them
all.
Older by several years than any of the
others, she exercised remarkable influence
over them Indeed, among the children they
knew. she was the head and the leader. Not
that she seemed old and overgrave for her
wears No sweeteT, SUMMER child alive than
she. Her merry, rippling laughter was like
the music of bird song. Her hair was light
brown. She wore it in the fashion of the
time, in long. heavy braids. She was tall and
strong for her years with straight, black eye
brows, and large beautiful eyes, black at
night and clear bright gray in the daytime.
Wonderful eyes they were, rejecting, as face
answers to face in the glass, the many sided
nature of the soul within. Now they flashed
with scorn and anger, like fire from a flint;
again they were tender and pearly as the dew
II -
intensely seeing, rapt look hay in them, as
though all the things that are had been some
how burned away in the white fire of
thought, and this child looked far beyond and
saw centuries into the future, and the things
that are to be. They were strangely mag
netic too. She drew whom she chose toward
her by a look.
''When Shirley looks at you, you must
come, said Brownie.
She was very child in some respects, inno-
cent and trusting, believing everything that
was told her, as if she had been years old.
As scholar she was the pride of her parents
and the prodigy of the neighborhoOd. All
studies came alike to her; she was easily mas
ter in them all. In practical matters it was
the same. Whatever work needed to be done,
such as little country maidens were wont TO
perform, her quick, strong hands could ac-
light, patient feet were always ready to run
merrily at her mothers call Shirley soothed
the babies and mended their little garments;
Shirley weeded the garden and gathered in
the vegetables, and she sang about her work
like a redbird She could swim, row a boat
and ride a wild colt, and among all the chill
dren was none so fleet of foot as she, this
strong, bright, happy girl
sour Shirleys as good as a boy, said Tom.
'tShe can do everything. There never was a
girl like her."
A girl who was as good as a boy for
''pard" and yet could make even boys stand
back when she felt like there was a supe-
rior being, indeed
How they loved her, father and mother,
brothers and sisters. She idolized them too,
she reveled in her affections If whatever
she undertook she could accomplish better
than other children, so her child friends felt,
somehow, that Shirley could love them more
than other people could. Her parents knew
that Shirley would have gone through fire for
them. Hers was nature of flame and steel
and crystal, and yet on one side of it of pearly
tenderness and gentleness, too.
An uncommon destiny was predicted for
the child Her remarkable beauty attracted
attention from all To the fine, high bred
features, brilliant eyes and straight, black
eyebrows. was added a complexion rose tinted
and radiant. With every passing emotion
the exquisite color came and went in her cheek
like the changing light on the burning breast
of dove. The expression of her face was
varied as the tints of the many hued sea But
the countenance told always of a soul full of
truth and strength, sunny sweetness and
slngleness Of purpose.
All this in a child of 14l Yes, Shirley was
not turned cut of the common mold. She
was as school girls might be, not as they are
Even stolid, average humanity recognized the
power and the promise there was in her. Col
Carstone was a man of wealth His children
could have whatever he and the mother
thought was good for them What promise
of life could be more rare and radiant than
Shirley'sa
Only her father saw something that trou-
bled him.
"But I'm afraid for Shirley. She is so
easily deceived be said. People bear their
fate within their own breasts. The child
would lie down and make bridge of her
self for those she loved TO walk over. She
carries predestination Of martyrdom within
her, somehow
aTou, dear, you always did talk little
nonsense. you know said his wife. -Shir-
ley's the merriest child l ever saw"
@'Fore de Lord, p said old Sam, shes got
more sense nor anybody ever seed, for a
gall
Shirley looked at her father instantly.
APapa,r she asked, allasnt a girl as much
sense as a boyr
Papa smiled. and did not answer, at first
Then be said:
4Find ont for yourself, Shirley
The question took hold of her. Ii haunted
her thought She had perceptions under
meath the common pc rceptions- Where other
children saw only the substance she unknow-
ingiy looked deeper. and saw the spirit
She read everything she could lay hands on.
Her imagination took fire as she read Of war
riors, heroes and martyrs The lesson of
their mighty deeds sank into the deep child
heart, and bIossomed in the clear child soul
Her world of fancy was peopied with leaders
and princes like Moses, with Casars and
splendid crusaders like Richard the Lion
Heart Barnard Palsy, defying hunger and
want, opposing those whom he held dearest,
tearing the very walls from his cabin, sacri-
dcing all 70 achieve one splendid result